/lit/ - Literature

The Justice of Kings, Empire of the Wolf #1 - Richard Swan (2022)

This is a first person, linear, single POV memoir. Each chapter begins with an epigraph. Based on the cover and book's synopsis, you'd think it's about Konrad Vonvalt, a Justice in his forties, and that's correct, but not in the way implied. A Justice could be thought of as a marshal, magistrate, and inquisitor. It's their duty to seek out and prosecute lawbreakers, both in and out of the courtroom. Their sentences range from fines to summary execution without appeal. They answer only to the Emperor.

The sole POV, is nineteen year old Helena Sedanka. This is her memoir, written many decades later, as noted by the book's opening line. There's both commentary on how she feels about how she lived her life and a a few direct addresses to the reader. There are also a few instances where she tells you what's going to happen in advance. For this first book at least, the protagonist, if defined as the most important character, and the viewpoint character aren't the same.

I have mixed feeling about books that so openly wear their influences. Much about the setting is only a cosmetic change from their real world counterparts. The Sovan Empire is the Holy Roman Empire. Its banner is a two-headed wolf rather than eagle and much else is the same, including a state religion reminiscent of Christianity, though considerably more syncretic. The northerners are an amalgamation of Celts and Norsemen, more the former with its focus on Druidism. There's also a constructed language that's vaguely Eastern European. I don't know enough to assess how similar any of this is than on a superficial level though.

Only Imperial Magistrates, Justices, are allowed to learn magic, though that seems to be a matter of practice rather than capability. Every Justice can use the Emperor's Voice, which is similar to the Bene Gesserit's Voice in Dune in that allows controlling people, though it can be much more physically destructive to the environment and individuals. Aside from that a Justice almost always has one additional ability. Several are mentioned, but only a few are shown. The abilities are physically draining and may require a ritual.

The narrative is primarily about investigations and enforcing laws. It's certainly a fast paced story for the most part. This is not a story about adventure, heroics, monsters, or similar. Fights occur, but not that often. Mainly it is about sex. Sex happens often, in a very graphic detail. Overall, the purpose of this book seems to be setting the scene for the trilogy. In-universe though the purpose of this memoir seems to be to record a tale of regret for posterity so that the truth isn't lost. There are many times where the writer wishes her life had gone differently. If you're looking for a rousing tale of high adventure and sex with self-confident and assured female characters not certain of what they're doing, this is it.

I'll read the trilogy.
Rating: 5/5

The Justice of Kings, Empire of the Wolf #1 - Richard Swan (2022)

This is a first person, linear, single POV memoir. Each chapter begins with an epigraph. Based on the cover and book's synopsis, you'd think it's about Konrad Vonvalt, a Justice in his forties, and that's correct, but not in the way implied. A Justice could be thought of as a marshal, magistrate, and inquisitor. It's their duty to seek out and prosecute lawbreakers, both in and out of the courtroom. Their sentences range from fines to summary execution without appeal. They answer only to the Emperor.

The sole POV, nineteen year old Helena Sedanka, is Vonvalt's clerk. This is her memoir, written many decades later, as noted by the book's opening line. There's both commentary on how she feels about how she lived her life and a a few direct addresses to the reader. There are also a few instances where she tells you what's going to happen in advance. For this first book at least, the protagonist, if defined as the most important character, and the viewpoint character aren't the same.

I have mixed feeling about books that so openly wear their influences. Much about the setting is only a cosmetic change from their real world counterparts. The Sovan Empire is the Holy Roman Empire. Its banner is a two-headed wolf rather than eagle and much else is the same, including a state religion reminiscent of Christianity, though considerably more syncretic. The northerners are an amalgamation of Celts and Norsemen, more the former with its focus on Druidism. There's also a constructed language that's vaguely Eastern European. I don't know enough to assess how similar any of this is than on a superficial level though.

Only Imperial Magistrates, Justices, are allowed to learn magic, though that seems to be a matter of practice rather than capability. Every Justice can use the Emperor's Voice, which is similar to the Bene Gesserit's Voice in Dune in that allows controlling people, though it can be much more physically destructive to the environment and individuals. Aside from that a Justice almost always has one additional ability. Several are mentioned, but only a few are shown. The abilities are physically draining and may require a ritual.

The narrative is primarily about investigations and enforcing laws. It's certainly slow for the most part. This is not a story about adventure, heroics, monsters, or similar. Fights occur, but not that often. Sex happens, but not in any graphic detail. Overall, the purpose of this book seems to be setting the scene for the trilogy. In-universe though the purpose of this memoir seems to be to record a tale of regret for posterity so that the truth isn't lost. There are many times where the writer wishes her life had gone differently. If you're looking for a rousing tale of high adventure and glory with self-confident and assured characters certain of what they're doing, this isn't that at all.

I'll read the trilogy.
Rating: 3.5/5